Richard "Bill" Wells Littlefield Jr.

Richard Wells “Bill” Littlefield passed away on April 27, 2012 at the age of 63, due to complications of congestive heart failure. A native of Jesup, Bill was the son of the late Hazel Harper and Richard Wells “Snookie” Littlefield, Sr. Bill was educated in the public schools of Jesup and Wayne County. He received his undergraduate degree from Emory University (1970) and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Georgia (1973). Bill’s leadership abilities emerged early when he pledged the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Emory, where he served as entertainment chairman for the chapter and later when he was elected vice-president of his first year law school class. He continued as a well-respected member of the Georgia Bar throughout his career in the practice of law in both the public and private sectors. Bill began his legal career with the support and guidance of the late Ronald Adams and Glenn Thomas, Jr. Bill served as assistant District Attorney for the six-county Brunswick Judicial Circuit. He resided with his family on St. Simons Island and he practiced law in Brunswick from 1973 to 1983. During this time, Bill was elected to represent State Senate district 6, where he served three terms. During his devoted service in the Georgia Senate, Bill was Vice Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and Secretary of the Insurance Committee. He served on the Governor’s Select Committee on Juvenile Justice, the Governor’s Select Committee on Constitutional Revision (1979-1982), and on the Georgia Code Revision Commission (1981-1987). After his first year in office, Bill garnered the highest ranking among his fellow Senators by the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy. Bill received the “Friend of Children” award from the Georgia Council on Children; an outstanding service award from the Georgia Municipal Association; a leadership award from the Wayne County Young Farmers; and a legislative leadership award from the Georgia State Crime Commission, among many other distinctions. Clark College Atlanta recognized him for his advocacy on behalf of children, the elderly, and working people of Georgia. After three terms in the Senate, Bill relocated permanently to the Atlanta area, where he practiced law in the corporate sector for nearly 30 years. He was the regional managing attorney for Zurich Insurance Group for 10 years, overseeing 10 legal offices across the country. In 1999, Bill had the opportunity to return to the legislature to assist the late Senator René Kemp as legal advisor to the Senate Judiciary Committee. He went on to serve as Executive Counsel to Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor and, later, serving as the Director of the joint Senate Information and Research Offices, where he mentored many young people who aspired to careers in public service and public policy. He was currently serving in a house counsel capacity, providing legal representation for the Travelers Insurance Company, Workers Compensation section. Bill enjoyed a good round of golf, a glass of good wine, music of all kinds, from classical to country, and he was a gifted gardener. He enjoyed travel and was most happy when he and his wife, Beverly, could relax at their favorite Beach Bar at the Island Beachcomber on St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., where they had been meeting cherished friends each year for the last 20 years. Of his many achievements, he was most proud of the accomplished adults his children have become.

Bill is survived by his wife of 15 years, Beverly Rheney Littlefield; daughter, Stephanie Anne (fiancé Cameron Zettel), Seattle, Washington; son, Major R. Wells Littlefield, III, US Air Force, currently serving in Afghanistan, and permanently stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter, Lindsey L. Lieber (Phillip), Charlotte, North Carolina; sister, Mary Catherine L. Amerine (Gary), North Augusta, South Carolina; granddaughter, Ava Grace Lieber, Charlotte, NC; and Harper, Hopkins, and Littlefield cousins. He also is survived by Lorraine Boudreau, Stephanie and Wells’ mother, and her husband, Al, of Townsend, Georgia. Bill will forever be remembered as a devoted father and husband, statesman, mentor, and a true and caring friend to all those blessed to have had the fortune of knowing him. He will be missed, too, by his beloved kitties, Kaycee, Spanky, Renny and Misty, and by too many friends to count. The family is deeply appreciative of the support and care provided by Dr. Hector Malave, Dr. Thomas Seay, and Dr. Norman Gitlin and their staffs, the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital, and the staff of Hospice Atlanta. A memorial service and celebration of the life of Bill Littlefield will be held at H.M. Patterson and Son, Spring Hill, at 3 o’clock on Friday, May 4, 2012. Casual attire is suggested and the wearing of tropical shirts is encouraged, in honor of Bill’s fondness for the USVI in particular and the Caribbean in general. In lieu of floral remembrances, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice, to Furkids animal rescue, www.furkids.org, or to the University of Georgia Law School Fund in Memory of Richard W. Littlefield, Jr. (JD, ’73), https://www.externalaffairs.uga.edu/os/makegift . H.M. Patterson and Son, Spring Hill, 1020 Spring St., Atlanta, GA 30309.